THE LUSITANIA SUNK.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XL, Issue 12541, 12 May 1915, Page 4

THE LUSITANIA SUNK.

THE GERMAN THREAT

FIXING THE CULPABILITY

[By Electric Telegp.apii—Copykhuit.]

Pun Pr.Kbs Association. Received May 11, at 11 p.m. .New York. M;i,v 11

[)]■ Dornburg, in a message to tlie American, people, declares that Americans are only safe if they travel by American vessels not carrying contraband. An American ship with contraband will be torpedoed exactly the .*ame as a British vessel, except that ail attemtp will be made to give a warning in time, for the passengers and crew to be saved. Received May 11, at 11.5 p.m. Paris, May 11. The Berliner Tageblatt laments the hard fate of ' the Lusitaiua's victims, but- claims that Germany is completely devoid of blame. The. paper hopes that upon calm reflection the world will pronounce a verdict of condemnation against the British Admiralty and Mr Churchill, whose conscienceless instructions must have been expected to bring i\ curse' upon mankind. , Count Reventlow says: "The disaster is the American Government's fault for .not taking Germany's war zone declaration seriously." Received May 11, at 3.M p.m. London. May ID.

Th« German Foreign Office wirelessed to "Washington expressing the deepestsympathy en the loss of the Americans. The message stated that the responsibility rested with Britain, as the Lusitania carried 5400 casts <?i ; ammunition and the rest of her cargo was chiefly contraband.

STATEMENT BY SURVIVORS. WAS EVERYTHING POSSIBLE . DONE ? STRANGE STATEMENTS ABOUT " BOATS. WAS THE ADMIRALTY TO BLAME?' Received May 11, at 5.25 p.m. London, May IU. Survivors' stories lay stress upon a. number of facts calling for explanation. Despite the warning of the German Embassy of Washington, tile Lusitania- had no naval, escort, and this is the' more remarkable when it is remembered that a submarine had already found victims in this part of the Atlantic. . Cork newspapers reported that a submarine- was reconnoitring close inshore on Thursday, and observers on land declare that fifteen minutes before the disaster a patrol boat passed the Lusitania. turned, and followed her, while immediately after she sank, another patrol boat darted ui> from the west These statements directly conflict with the unanimous assertion of survivors that, though they felt sure the na-vv was taking care of them, they saw" no warships' patrol boat before or after the sinking. The worship Juno passed over the spot two hours earlier, and the moment she had moored at Queens-town she received the Lusita'ilia's call. She steamed out, 'but short-lv returned, as many Admiralty tugs and small craft were swarming upon the scene. The evidence is clear that she was without assistance for two hours. . Survivors state that no smoke was coming from the rearmost tunnel and little from the next. Whether the enoineors were economising coal in order to reduce the smoke trail, or whether the slow sneed was involuntary, has not been ascertained. It is most important from the point of view that reliance was placed on her speedmess. Others consider that the captam and crew mi"ht have done more, but mala; allowances for the difficulties owing to the vessel's heavy list; but the fact remains that when several boats were and swamped by being lowered no attempt was made to lower others. -V curious statement has been _ independently made by two American passengers that an order was received not- to launch the boats. In one case passengers already in the boat- had to return on deck. * In another instance a narrator , threatened to shoot anyone atteniptL inir to prevent a- boat being lowered. Mr Isaac Jackson stated .that an officer ordered several to quit the boats that had been swung out;.-wliere they were awaiting events, shouting., llierc is no danger." Apparently the onieers believed they should remain because the vessel had ceased to heel. The Cuban Consul came ashore at Queonstown, accompanied by an athletic ladv in- sailor's - trousers and iumper, whose swimming powers saved her life. Her husband was drowned.

(Times and Sydney Sun Servicss.l

THE LUSITANIA

BITTERNESS IN BRITAIN AND AMERICA.

London. May 10

The Lusitania's crew, numbering 60-) hi all, belonged io Liverpool. A number of their womenfolk kept yigit throughout the night, their strained faces being in most vivid contrast to the stoical unconcern of the arriving Survivors. One distraught mother tugged imploring survivors; crying, "Has anyone seen Dan iDaley, a fireman 1 He was niv son." When told that he w:is among the drowned she flung herself on a packin.g-case wailing her sorrow unnoticed by a majority of thos? present, who were engaged in happy reunion;;. One would hear the exclamation, "He s saved!" and then witness the fortunate one being devoured with kisses. Two Canadian soldiers were- seen embracing their mother, who sailed on the Lusitania with the intention of paying thorn a surprise visit. The first intimation tho sons had that their mother was' aboard was the announcement that she was among the rescued. A Russian manifested considerable pride in a lifebelt, which, lie persisted in wearing over his topcoat. The Times in a leader says the lull horror of the Lnsitania crime is now revealed and has stirred the people more deeply than the other murdcroiis acts of the' Germans. Never since the world began has there been such a. spectacle of a whole, race of many, millions scientifically organised for wholesale murder, kist, and devastation. American intervention in the war would not materially affect the situation, but we can legitimately ask whether a nation whose citizens are wantonly destroyed can continue friendly official relations with a Power that has sunk to such moral degradation. The latestmassacre has stiffened a thousandfold t.he resolute determination of Britain to avenge. The only way to restore the peace" of the world is to carry war. .■throughout the length .and breadth of Germany. Unless Berlin is entered blood will have been shed in vain. However, long the strife, such is tho only permissible end. The Times' correspondent in New York says that America is ablaze with indignation and universal horror, which may force the Government to a declaration of war. The question is discussed in every part of America. There is nodoubt that Mr Wilson is firnilv determined to avoid war if possible. Mr Wilson is anxious that the public restrain their paroxysms of rage and give him a free hand to deaf with the crisis. Per Press Association; • Auckland. May 12. Mi- Jack Mackay, son of Mr J. C. Mackay, cables that he is safe in London, having arrived a week in advance of the Lusitania, on which his father and mother were passengers.

FORMER' NEW ZEAL AND FAMILY.

(Otago Daily Times.)

A cable message published by lis yesterday stated! that "an: American family named 1 Gardner, consisting of father, mother and two sons, who had intended to settle in New Zealand, -were on board the Lnsitania. The head of the family (Mr James Gardner) was an exHigh' School boy, and a. weli-knownresi-dent of Dunediu until some 13 years ago, when he relinquished his bus-mess as a hoiscry manufacturer and went to Toronto. Canada. T.n that city Mr Gardner had 1 a large interest i.n a, costume manufacturing company which he recently disposed of, and was on his war to' England to complete arrauceme'nts for some agencies when the disaster to the Lusit-auia occurred. It

was his iutcntion to have come out to New Zealand, and -ettle 110:11; In; eldest soil, who is engaged in fn»t : ml !,'^ in the Nol-on diM,rat. Mrs (.ardne was formerly -Miss Gray, the late Mr John Cray, ol Pine Mill. ■lll cl ■< iiulv "I' <'im:igmg l). I'sonahtv. who was regarded with .lee.) affection hv Ikm- manv friends. Hot:'.' she «'ul her hu-hund' iv, iv rioniineiit members ~f Trin'tv Methodist Cnureh during their residence in Huiiedm. and later acted as a lay preacher. Mr An,l-ir« . (ii-rdm-r. father cf Ja>» 1 «'"; 1 „-;,.. •,•..,(> a loading light in the same church for a great number ot .years. He died some .12 months ago leaving ' M's (iardiner. who rewuts 111 I'redonck ' street "Mrs .lames Gardiner lias lour Ulsters -In New Zealand-Mrs Mvlwon (Gore), -Mrs; Stevenson .Mrs pinion (Duncdiii), and-Mr, Matthews (Y\ angamii). _ 3